Mesh sensor design for reduced visibility in touch screen devices

ABSTRACT

An input device having a plurality of low-visibility sensor electrodes and method for fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed over a display device. A first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes includes a conductive mesh having a first periodicity defined by intersections of conductive traces forming the mesh. A terminal portion of one of the conductive traces terminating at an edge of the first sensor electrode has an orientation that is different than an orientation of a corresponding portion of the mesh defining the first periodicity. An end of the terminal portion proximate the edge laying over a subpixel has the same color as a subpixel of the display device which the end would lay over if the end had the same orientation as the corresponding portion of the mesh defining the first periodicity.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an input device havinga plurality of low-visibility sensor electrodes and method sensing aninput object using the same.

BACKGROUND

Input devices including proximity sensor devices (also commonly calledtouchpads or touch sensor devices) are widely used in a variety ofelectronic systems. A proximity sensor device typically includes asensing region, often demarked by a surface, in which the proximitysensor device determines the presence, location and/or motion of one ormore input objects. Proximity sensor devices may be used to provideinterfaces for the electronic system. For example, proximity sensordevices are often used as input devices for larger computing systems(such as opaque touchpads integrated in, or peripheral to, notebook ordesktop computers). Proximity sensor devices are also often used insmaller computer systems (such as touch screens integrated in cellularphones).

Some proximity sensor devices proximity sensor devices utilizemicroscopic wiring patterns made from opaque conductive materials toform conductive sensor elements. When used over a display of the touchscreen, these conductive traces or wires can block some of the pixels orsub-pixels in the display. Certain patterns interfere with the displaymore than others. For example, if the sensor periodicity is close to thedisplay periodicity, a moiré pattern may be visible when the display isilluminated. Because the eye is more sensitive to some pattern sizesthan others, the moiré pattern has a different appearance depending onits size. In the size range of typical displays, small features are lessvisible. Because of this, fabricators have conventionally attempted tominimize the moiré pattern by reducing the size and width of eachconductive trace. Cost effective processing precludes making theconductive traces so small that they cannot be seen under any condition,rendering simple size reduction as an ineffective solution.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved an input device having aplurality of low-visibility sensor electrodes for sensing an inputobject relative to a sensing region of the input device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An input device having a plurality of low-visibility sensor electrodesand method for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, an inputdevice includes a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed over a displaydevice having an array of pixels. Each pixel including at least a firstsubpixel having a first color and a second subpixel having a secondcolor that is different than the first color. The plurality of sensorelectrodes are configured to sense objects in a sensing region of theinput device. At least a first sensor electrode of the plurality ofsensor electrodes further includes plurality of spaced apart conductivetraces forming a conductive mesh having a first periodicity defined byintersections of the conductive traces forming the mesh. A terminalportion of one of the conductive traces terminating at an edge of thefirst sensor electrode has an orientation that is different than anorientation of a corresponding portion of the mesh defining the firstperiodicity. An end of the terminal portion of the conductive traceproximate the edge of the first sensor electrode laying over a subpixelhas the same color as a subpixel which the end would lay over if the endhad the same orientation as the corresponding portion of the meshdefining the first periodicity.

In another embodiment, an input device is provided that includes adisplay device having an array of pixels and a plurality of sensorelectrodes disposed over the display device. The sensor electrodes areconfigured to sense objects in a sensing region of the input device. Theplurality of sensor electrodes further include a first sensor electrodecomprising a plurality of spaced apart conductive traces forming aconductive mesh, a second sensor electrode comprising a plurality ofspaced apart conductive traces forming a conductive mesh, a first unitarea having a visually resolvable plan area defined within the firstsensor electrode, and a second unit area having a visually resolvableplan area defined partially within the first sensor electrode andpartially within the second sensor electrode. A first blockage areadefined within the first unit area is substantially equal to a secondblockage area defined within the second unit area.

In yet another embodiment, a method for making a sensor device isprovided that includes receiving display information and generating meshsensor fabrication instructions for creating a trace pattern for aplurality of sensor electrodes, the trace pattern having reducevisibility. For example in one embodiment, the trace pattern may includefirst unit area having a visually resolvable plan area defined within afirst sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes, and asecond unit area having a visually resolvable plan area definedpartially within the first sensor electrode and partially within asecond sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein afirst blockage area defined within the first unit area is substantiallyequal to a second blockage area defined within the second unit area.

In another embodiment, the trace pattern may include a conductive meshhaving a first periodicity defined by intersections of the tracesforming the mesh, a terminal portion of one of the conductive tracesterminating at an edge of the a sensor electrode of the plurality ofsensor electrodes, the sensor electrode having an orientation that isdifferent than an orientation of a corresponding portion of theconductive mesh, and wherein an end of a terminal portion of theconductive trace proximate an edge of the sensor electrode laying over asubpixel having the same color as a subpixel which the end would layover if the end had the same orientation as a corresponding portion ofthe conductive mesh at an interior of the sensor electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features can be understoodin detail, a more particular description, briefly summarized above, maybe had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in theappended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appendeddrawings illustrate only embodiments of the invention and are thereforenot to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admitto other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary input device havinga sensor device, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic of one embodiment of the sensor deviceof FIG. 1 disposed over a display device, including an enlargement of aportion of a sensor illustrating traces comprising the sensor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a portion of a sensor illustrating theorientation of the traces comprising the sensor relative to an imaginarygrid.

FIG. 4 is one embodiment of a portion of the sensor device of FIG. 1illustrating is a schematic of a portion of a sensor illustrating tracescomprising the sensor relation to a plurality of pixels indicated bysubpixels R (red subpixels), G (green subpixels) and B (blue subpixels)relative to the imaginary grid.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 5 illustrating adjacent edges ofneighboring sensor electrodes.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 5 illustrating adjacent tracescoupled to sensor electrodes.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate alternative trace layouts relative to theimaginary grid and pixels.

FIGS. 6-9 are partial plan views of alternative embodiments of tracesalong adjacent edges of neighboring sensor electrodes.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of a sensor device identifyingdifferent unit areas within the sensor device.

FIGS. 11-14 are plan views of a portion of a sensor electrode at anintersection of two traces, according to different embodiments.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a sensing device havingtwo traces intersecting as depicted in FIG. 14.

FIGS. 16-18 are plan views of terminal ends of traces comprising asensor electrode, according to different embodiments.

FIG. 19 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a sensing device havingsensor electrodes on different substrates.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a portion of the sensing device of FIG. 18illustrating the crossing of two sensor electrodes.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a method for makinga mesh sensor electrode

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in oneembodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments withoutspecific recitation.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following Description of Embodiments is merely provided by way ofexample and not of limitation. Furthermore, there is no intention to bebound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the precedingtechnical field, background, brief summary or the following detaileddescription. Various embodiments of the present invention provide inputdevices and methods that facilitate improved usability of a touch screendevice.

In various embodiments, an input device is formed from conductive traces(i.e., micro-traces) arranged at an angle and periodicity such that thetraces are substantially invisible, thus allowing larger assemblies ofsmall traces to form sensor elements that do not substantially diminishthe quality of light transmission through the input device.Advantageously, the low-visibility traces can be utilized to form sensorelements in virtually any arbitrary shape, size or orientation, therebyallowing the design of the sensor elements to focus on deviceperformance instead of trying to minimize disruption of lighttransmission or other undesirable visual effects.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary input device 100, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention. The input device 100 maybe configured to provide input to an electronic system (not shown). Asused in this document, the term “electronic system” (or “electronicdevice”) broadly refers to any system capable of electronicallyprocessing information. Some non-limiting examples of electronic systemsinclude personal computers of all sizes and shapes, such a desktopcomputers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablets, web browsers,e-book readers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Additionalexample electronic systems include composite input devices, such asphysical keyboards that include input device 100 and separate joysticksor key switches. Further example electronic systems include peripheralssuch as data input devices (including remote controls and mice), anddata output devices (including display screens and printers). Otherexamples include remote terminals, kiosks, and video game machines(e.g., video game consoles, portable gaming devices, and the like).Other examples include communication devices (including cellular phones,such as smart phones), and media devices (including recorders, editors,and players such as televisions, set-top boxes, music players, digitalphoto frames, and digital cameras). Additionally, the electronic systemcould be a host or a slave to the input device.

The input device 100 can be implemented as a physical part of theelectronic system, or can be physically separate from the electronicsystem. As appropriate, the input device 100 may communicate with partsof the electronic system using any one or more of the following: buses,networks, and other wired or wireless interconnections. Examples includeI²C, SPI, PS/2, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Bluetooth, RF, and IRDA.

In FIG. 1, the input device 100 is shown as a proximity sensor device(also often referred to as a “touchpad” or a “touch sensor device”) andincludes a sensor device 150 having sensing elements configured to senseinput provided by one or more input objects 140 in a sensing region 120.Example input objects include fingers and styli, as shown in FIG. 1.

Sensing region 120 encompasses any space above, around, in and/or nearthe input device 100 in which the input device 100 is able to detectuser input (e.g., user input provided by one or more input objects 140).The sizes, shapes, and locations of particular sensing regions may varywidely from embodiment to embodiment. In some embodiments, the sensingregion 120 extends from a surface of the input device 100 in one or moredirections into space until signal-to-noise ratios prevent sufficientlyaccurate object detection. The distance to which this sensing region 120extends in a particular direction, in various embodiments, may be onethe order of less than a millimeter, millimeters, centimeters, or more,and may vary significantly with the type of sensing technology used andthe accuracy desired. Thus, some embodiments sense input that comprisesno contact with any surfaces of the input device 100, contact with aninput surface (e.g., a touch surface) of the input device 100, contactwith an input surface of the input device 100 coupled with some amountof applied force or pressure, and/or a combination thereof. In variousembodiments, input surfaces may be provided by surfaces of casingswithin which the sensor electrodes reside, by face sheets applied overthe sensor electrodes or any casings, etc. In some embodiments, thesensing region 120 has a rectangular shape when projected onto an inputsurface of the input device 100.

The input device 100 may utilize any combination of sensor componentsand sensing technologies to detect user input in the sensing region 120.The input device 100 comprises one or more sensing elements (i.e.,sensor electrodes of the sensor device 150) for detecting user input. Asseveral non-limiting examples, the input device 100 may use ultrasonic,capacitive, elastive, resistive, inductive, surface acoustic wave,and/or optical techniques to provide one or more resulting signals whichinclude positive and negative polarities, the one or more resultingsignals including effects indicative of the input object relative to thesensing region.

Some implementations are configured to provide images that span one,two, three or higher dimensional spaces. Some implementations areconfigured to provide projections of input along particular axes orplanes.

In some resistive implementations of the input device 100, a flexibleand conductive first layer is separated by one or more spacer elementsfrom a conductive second layer. During operation, one or more voltagegradients are created across the layers. Pressing the flexible firstlayer may deflect it sufficiently to create electrical contact betweenthe layers, resulting in voltage outputs reflective of the point(s) ofcontact between the layers. These voltage outputs may be used todetermine positional information.

In some inductive implementations of the input device 100, one or moresensing elements pick up loop currents induced by a resonating coil orpair of coils. Some combination of the magnitude, phase, and frequencyof the currents may then be used to determine positional information.

In some capacitive implementations of the input device 100, voltage orcurrent is applied to create an electric field. Nearby input objectscause changes in the electric field, and produce detectable changes incapacitive coupling that may be detected as changes in voltage, current,or the like.

Some capacitive implementations utilize arrays or other regular orirregular patterns of capacitive sensing elements to create electricfields. In some capacitive implementations, separate sensing elementsmay be ohmically shorted together to form larger sensor electrodes. Somecapacitive implementations utilize resistive sheets, which may beuniformly resistive.

Some capacitive implementations utilize “self capacitance” (or “absolutecapacitance”) sensing methods based on changes in the capacitivecoupling between sensor electrodes and an input object. In variousembodiments, an input object near the sensor electrodes alters theelectric field near the sensor electrodes, thus changing the measuredcapacitive coupling. In one implementation, an absolute capacitancesensing method operates by modulating sensor electrodes with respect toa reference voltage (e.g. system ground), and by detecting thecapacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes and input objects.

Some capacitive implementations utilize “mutual capacitance” (or“transcapacitance”) sensing methods based on changes in the capacitivecoupling between sensor electrodes. In various embodiments, an inputobject near the sensor electrodes alters the electric field between thesensor electrodes, thus changing the measured capacitive coupling. Inone implementation, a transcapacitive sensing method operates bydetecting the capacitive coupling between one or more transmitter sensorelectrodes (also “transmitter electrodes” or “transmitters”) and one ormore receiver sensor electrodes (also “receiver electrodes” or“receivers”). Transmitter sensor electrodes may be modulated relative toa reference voltage (e.g., system ground) to transmit transmittersignals. Receiver sensor electrodes may be held substantially constantrelative to the reference voltage to facilitate receipt of resultingsignals. A resulting signal may comprise effect(s) corresponding to oneor more transmitter signals, and/or to one or more sources ofenvironmental interference (e.g. other electromagnetic signals). Sensorelectrodes may be dedicated transmitters or receivers, or may beconfigured to both transmit and receive.

In FIG. 1, the processing system (or “processor”) 110 is shown as a partor subsystem of the input device 100. The processing system 110 isconfigured to operate the hardware of the input device 100 to detectinput in the sensing region 120 utilizing resulting signals provided tothe processing system 110 from the sensor device 150. The processingsystem 110 comprises parts of or all of one or more integrated circuits(ICs) and/or other circuitry components; in some embodiments, theprocessing system 110 also comprises electronically-readableinstructions, such as firmware code, software code, and/or the like. Insome embodiments, components composing the processing system 110 arelocated together, such as near sensing element(s) of the input device100. In other embodiments, components of processing system 110 arephysically separate with one or more components close to sensingelement(s) of input device 100, and one or more components elsewhere.For example, the input device 100 may be a peripheral coupled to adesktop computer, and the processing system 110 may comprise softwareconfigured to run on a central processing unit of the desktop computerand one or more ICs (perhaps with associated firmware) separate from thecentral processing unit. As another example, the input device 100 may bephysically integrated in a phone, and the processing system 110 maycomprise circuits and firmware that are part of a main processor of thephone. In some embodiments, the processing system 110 is dedicated toimplementing the input device 100. In other embodiments, the processingsystem 110 also performs other functions, such as operating displayscreens, driving haptic actuators, etc.

The processing system 110 may be implemented as a set of modules thathandle different functions of the processing system 110. Each module maycomprise circuitry that is a part of the processing system 110,firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments,different combinations of modules may be used. Example modules includehardware operation modules for operating hardware such as sensorelectrodes and display screens, data processing modules for processingdata such as sensor signals and positional information, and reportingmodules for reporting information. Further example modules includesensor operation modules configured to operate sensing element(s) todetect input, identification modules configured to identify gesturessuch as mode changing gestures, and mode changing modules for changingoperation modes.

In some embodiments, the processing system 110 responds to user input(or lack of user input) in the sensing region 120 directly by causingone or more actions. Example actions include changing operation modes,as well as GUI actions such as cursor movement, selection, menunavigation, and other functions. In some embodiments, the processingsystem 110 provides information about the input (or lack of input) tosome part of the electronic system (e.g., to a central processing systemof the electronic system that is separate from the processing system110, if such a separate central processing system exists). In someembodiments, some part of the electronic system processes informationreceived from the processing system 110 to act on user input, such as tofacilitate a full range of actions, including mode changing actions andGUI actions.

For example, in some embodiments, the processing system 110 operates thesensing element(s) of the sensor device 150 to produce electricalsignals indicative of input (or lack of input) in the sensing region120. The processing system 110 may perform any appropriate amount ofprocessing on the electrical signals in producing the informationprovided to the electronic system. For example, the processing system110 may digitize analog electrical signals obtained from the sensorelectrodes of the sensor device 150. As another example, the processingsystem 110 may perform filtering or other signal conditioning. As yetanother example, the processing system 110 may subtract or otherwiseaccount of a baseline, such that the information reflects a differencebetween the electrical signals and the baseline. As yet furtherexamples, the processing system 110 may determine positionalinformation, recognize inputs as commands, recognize handwriting, andthe like.

“Positional information” as used herein broadly encompasses absoluteposition, relative position, velocity, acceleration, and other types ofspatial information. Exemplary “zero-dimensional” positional informationincludes near/far or contact/no contact information. Exemplary“one-dimensional”positional information includes positions along anaxis. Exemplary “two-dimensional” positional information includesmotions in a plane. Exemplary “three-dimensional” positional informationincludes instantaneous or average velocities in space. Further examplesinclude other representations of spatial information. Historical dataregarding one or more of positional information may also be determinedand/or stored, including, for example, historical data that tracksposition, motion, or instantaneous velocity over time.

In some embodiments, the input device 100 is implemented with additionalinput components that are operated by the processing system 110 or bysome other processing system. These additional input components mayprovide redundant functionality for input in the sensing region 120, orsome other functionality. FIG. 1 shows buttons 130 near the sensingregion 120 that can be used to facilitate selection of items using theinput device 100. Other types of additional input components includesliders, balls, wheels, switches, and the like. These input componentsmay be part of the sensor device 150. Conversely, in some embodiments,the input device 100 may be implemented with no other input components.

In some embodiments, the input device 100 comprises a touch screeninterface, and the sensing region 120 overlaps at least part of anactive area of a display screen that is part of a display device 160shown in FIG. 2 and described further below. For example, the sensordevice 150 of the input device 100 may comprise substantiallytransparent sensor electrodes overlaying the display screen and providea touch screen interface for the associated electronic system. Thedisplay screen may be any type of dynamic display capable of displayinga visual interface to a user, and may include any type of light emittingdiode (LED), organic LED (OLED), cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), plasma, electroluminescence (EL), or other displaytechnology. The input device 100 and the display screen may sharephysical elements. For example, some embodiments may utilize some of thesame electrical components for displaying and sensing. As anotherexample, the display screen may be operated in part or in total by theprocessing system 110.

It should be understood that while many embodiments of the invention aredescribed in the context of a fully functioning apparatus, themechanisms of the present invention are capable of being distributed asa program product (e.g., software) in a variety of forms. For example,the mechanisms of the present invention may be implemented anddistributed as a software program on information bearing storage mediathat are readable by electronic processors (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable and/or recordable/writable information bearing mediareadable by the processing system 110). Additionally, the embodiments ofthe present invention apply equally regardless of the particular type ofmedium used to carry out the distribution. Examples of non-transitory,electronically readable storage media include various discs, memorysticks, memory cards, memory modules, and the like. Electronicallyreadable storage media may be based on flash, optical, magnetic,holographic, or any other storage technology.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic of one embodiment of the sensor device150 disposed over a display device 160. As discussed above, a portion orall of the sensor device 150 may optionally be incorporated into thedisplay device 160. Together, the input device 100 having the sensordevice 150 and the display device 160 may be part of an electronicsystem 250.

The display device 160 may have monochromatic pixels, each formed fromsingle subpixels, or multi-colored pixels, each formed from multiplesubpixels. Three or four subpixels per color pixel are common, withcolor pixels formed from red-green-blue subpixels, red-green-blue-whitesubpixels, red-green-blue-yellow subpixels, or some other combination ofdifferently-colored subpixels. In embodiments where the display device160 includes multiple subpixels per pixel, the display device 160typically has a pixel pitch along the directions that the display devicespans. For example, square or rectangular display screens typically has“X” and “Y” pixel pitches. These pitches may be equal (resulting insquare pixels) or not equal. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, thedisplay device 160 includes an array of square pixels 206 comprised ofred (R), green (G), and blue (B) subpixels, but in other embodiments,other subpixels and subpixels groupings may be used.

The sensor device 150 includes a plurality of sensor elements, forexample, a sensor electrode pattern, configured to sense the presence of(or lack thereof) input objects 140 in the sensing region 120 adjacentthe sensor device 150. For clarity of illustration and description, FIG.2 shows a pattern of simple rectangles, and does not show variouscomponents. In various embodiments, the sensor electrode patterncomprises a plurality of first sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 202 ₂, . . . 202_(n) (collectively referred to as first sensor electrodes 202), and aplurality of second sensor electrodes 204 ₁, 204 ₂, . . . 204 _(m)(collectively referred to as second sensor electrodes 204) disposedadjacent the plurality of first sensor electrodes 202, wherein N and Mare positive integers representative of the last electrode in the array,and wherein N may, or may not, equal M. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, all of the second sensor electrodes 204 designed by the samesubscript are linearly aligned to form M parallel rows, three of whichare shown. Likewise, the first sensor electrodes 202 are linear andparallel to each other, and oriented perpendicular to the rows of secondsensor electrodes 204 _(1-M). It is also contemplated that the sensorelectrodes 202, 204 may have different orientations.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the sensor electrodes 202, 204 areshown disposed on a single substrate 216. It is contemplated that thesensor electrodes 202, 204 may be disposed on the same or opposite sidesof the substrate 216. It is also contemplated that the first sensorelectrodes 202 may be disposed second sensor electrodes 204 differentsubstrates.

The first sensor electrodes 202 and second sensor electrodes 204 arecoupled to the processing system 110 by conductive routing lines 262,264, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the conductiverouting lines 262, 264 is disposed on the substrate 216 on which theelectrodes 202, 204 are formed. The conductive routing lines 262, 264may be formed from ITO, aluminum, silver and copper, among othersuitable materials. The conductive routing lines 262, 264 may befabricated from opaque or non-opaque materials. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2, at least a portion 260 of the conductive routinglines 262 is routed on the substrate 216 between the electrodes 202,204, and such portion 260 of the conductive routing lines 262 may beconfigured as discussed below with reference to the construction of theelectrodes 202, 204.

In a transcapacitive configuration, the first sensor electrodes 202 andsecond sensor electrodes 204 may be configured to sense the presence of(or lack thereof) input objects 140 in the sensing region 120 adjacentthe sensor device 150 by driving a signal onto one of the sensorelectrodes (i.e., transmitter electrode), while at least one of theother sensor electrodes is configured as a receiver electrode. Thecapacitive coupling between the transmitter sensor electrodes andreceiver sensor electrodes change with the proximity and motion of inputobjects (140 shown in FIG. 1) in the sensing region 120 associated withthe first and second sensor electrodes 202, 204. By monitoring thecapacitive coupling between the transmitter sensor electrodes andreceiver sensor electrodes, the location and/or motion of the inputobject 140 may be determined.

Alternatively in an absolute sensing configuration, first sensorelectrodes 202 and second sensor electrodes 204 may be configured tosense the presence of input objects 140 in the sensing region 120adjacent the sensor device 150 based on changes in the capacitivecoupling between sensor electrodes 202, 204 and an input object 140. Forexample, the sensor electrodes 202, 204 may be modulated with respect toa reference voltage (e.g. system ground), and by detecting thecapacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes 202, 204 and inputobjects, the location and/or motion of the input object 140 may bedetermined. In other embodiments, other sensing methods may be used,including but not limited to, optical sensing, resistive sensing,acoustic wave sensing, ultrasonic sensing and the like.

In some touch screen embodiments, first sensor electrodes 202 compriseone or more common electrodes (e.g., “V-com electrode”) used in updatingthe display of the display device 160. These common electrodes may bedisposed on an appropriate display screen substrate of the displaydevice 160. For example, the common electrodes may be disposed on theTFT glass in some display screens (e.g., In-Plane Switching (IPS) orPlane to Line Switching (PLS)), on the bottom of the color filter glassof some display screens (e.g., Patterned Vertical Alignment (PVA) orMulti-domain Vertical Alignment (MVA)), etc. In such embodiments, thecommon electrode can also be referred to as a “combination electrode”,since it performs multiple functions. In various embodiments, each firstsensor electrode 202 comprises one or more common electrodes. In otherembodiments, at least two first sensor electrodes 202 may share at leastone common electrode.

At least one of the sensor electrodes 202, 204 comprises one or moreconductive traces having a diameter less than about 10 um. In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 2, a portion of the second sensor electrode204 ₁ is enlarged such that conductive traces 210 are shown. In variousembodiments, the conductive traces 210 may be fabricated from a materialsufficiently conductive enough to allow charging and discharging of thesensor electrodes 202, 204. Examples of materials suitable forfabricating the conductive traces 210 include ITO, aluminum, silver andcopper, among others. The conductive traces 210 may be fabricated fromopaque or non-opaque materials, and may be one of a metal mesh and/orthin metal wires. Suitably conductive carbon materials may also beutilized. Advantageously, using metallic materials for the conductivetraces 210 provides much lower electrical resistance as compared tosubstantially transparent conductors, thereby improving deviceperformance. Although the traces 210 are shown as being linear, thetraces 210 may also be wavy, for example, sinusoidal, along its length.

In at least some embodiments, the traces 210 may be arranged in anorientation that is substantially invisible and/or produces anacceptable moiré pattern, the width of the traces 210 may be increased,thereby allowing simpler and more efficient processing. For example, theconductive traces 210 may be arranged with at least one of an angle andperiodicity selected to render the traces substantially invisible. Thisallows a number of small traces 210 to be locally grouped to form largersensor elements (such as the second sensor electrode 204 ₁ and otherelectrodes illustrated in FIG. 2) in any arbitrary shape, size andorientation. In this manner, the second sensor electrode 204 (and/orsimilarly constructed first sensor electrode 202) may be linear, curved,circular, polygonal or other desirable geometric shape.

As mentioned above, the angle of individual traces 210 relative to theaxes of the display device 160 will also affect the visibility of thetraces 210. Not all of the traces 210 grouped to form a single sensorelectrode need have the same angular orientation, as long as combinedarrangement of the traces 210 will not detrimentally affect thevisibility of an image displayed on the display device 160. Thus, inmany embodiments, the traces 210 are predominantly orientated at anglesselected to reduce the visibility of the moiré patterns that may result.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the axes of pixels 206 comprisingthe display device 160 are aligned with the X and Y coordinate axes, asare lateral edges 212, 214 of the transparent substrate 216 on which thesecond sensor electrodes 204 of the sensor device 150 is disposed. Thus,primary angles 218, 220 of individual traces 210 thus may be referencedrelative to one of the lateral edges, for example edge 212, which isaligned with the axis of the pixels 206. The angles 218, 220 ofindividual traces 210 in which the traces 210 may be renderedsubstantially invisible may be determined by a variety of methods. Forexample, one method to render the traces 210 substantially invisible isto rotate a physical embodiment of the sensor pattern and visuallyidentify angle(s) that results in an acceptable or optimal subjectiveappearance. As another example, the spatial frequencies for coloraliasing between the display and the opaque traces may be calculated todetermine the angles and/or the trace pitches that reduce the calculatedvisibility. Examples of how to calculate the spatial frequencies aredescribed in literature on human vision, for example, “ContrastSensitivity of the Human Eye and its Effects on Image Quality” by PeterG. J. Baden. As yet another example, geometric construction may beutilized to choose a path for the traces that passes over red, green,and blue subpixels in a sequence that results in an acceptable oroptimal subjective appearance. Generally, the angles 218, 220 whichprovide a substantially invisible appearance need not be at a maximumvalue of the spatial frequency for a given trace 210 and pixel 206. Theeye is most sensitive to spatial frequencies of about 1-10 cycles perdegree at typical touch screen viewing distances, for example about 500to about 1000 mm. A contrast modulation of about 1 percent may bevisible at the most visible spatial frequencies. To remain invisible,with for example 10 percent contrast modulation, the spatial frequencyof the moiré pattern should be greater than about 40 cycles per degree,or about 50 per-cm (cm⁻¹). The angles 218, 220 that produce a moirépattern with a spatial frequency greater than about 50 cm havesufficiently low visibility with a typical 10 percent modulation.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the angle 218 of the traces 210may be at an orientation relative to the edge 212 (and the firstorientation of pixels 206 (e.g., aligned with the X axis) comprising thedisplay device 160) that is within about +/−5 degrees of an orientationthat provides maximized spatial frequency. In another embodiment, theangle 218 of the traces 210 may be, but not limited to, any one of about30, 36, 56, or 71 degrees+/− about 5 degrees relative to the edge 212(and the first orientation of pixels 206 (e.g., aligned with the X axis)comprising the display device 160). Although the first sensor electrodes202 of the sensor device 150 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 isdisposed at an angle 222 that is perpendicular to the X axis and edge212 of the sensor device 150, the angle 222 of the first sensorelectrodes 202 may be disposed at angles other than 90 degrees.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the angle 220 of the traces 210may be at an orientation relative to the edge 212 (and the firstorientation of pixels 206 (e.g., aligned with the X axis) comprising thedisplay device 160) that is within about +/−5 degrees of an orientationthat provides maximized spatial frequency. In another embodiment, theangle 220 may be, but not limited to anyone of about 109, 124, 144, or150 degrees+/− about 5 degrees relative to the edge 212 (and the firstorientation of pixels 206 (e.g., aligned with the X axis) comprising thedisplay device 160).

Adjacent traces 210 having the same angular orientation (e.g., eitherangle 218 or angle 220) may have a spacing (i.e., periodicity) 224, 226selected to render the traces substantially invisible. In oneembodiment, not all of adjacent traces 210 are spaced similarly. Invarious embodiments, the second sensor electrodes 204 may be fabricatedusing in a similar manner using conductive traces as described above inreference to the first sensor electrodes 202.

It is noted that both the spacing 224 and angles 220, 222 may beselected together to produce the above effects. The conductive traces210 may also be oriented using any one or combination of spacing 224 andangles 220, 222 relative to plurality of pixels 206 form a moiré patternwith the display device 160, wherein said moiré pattern comprises apitch in a direction parallel to the first orientation smaller than thepitch of 3 cycles of pixels 206.

Other attributes of the traces 210 comprising the sensor electrodes 202,204 also affect how visually detectable of the sensor electrodes 202,204 are to the human eye. For example, variation in the edges of thesensor electrodes 202, 204, the variation in amount of occlusion of aparticular color pixel, and the density of the traces 210 (factoringother light occluding material as further discussed below) across thesensor device 150 may all individually influence if undesirable visualpatterns are formed. FIGS. 3-16 describe embodiments of sensor devices150 which provide sensor electrodes 202, 204 having reduced visualpatterns achieved through the configuration of the various of attributesof the traces 210 comprising the sensor electrodes 202, 204.

FIG. 3 is one embodiment of one of the second sensor electrodes 204superimposed over an imaginary grid 330. The neighboring sensorselectrodes 202, 204 are omitted from FIG. 3 to enhance the ease ofunderstanding during the following description of the second sensorelectrode 204 in relation to the imaginary grid 330. The imaginary grid330 extends beyond the bounds of the second sensor electrodes 204 acrossthe sensing region of the substrate such that one or more of the otherelectrodes 202, 204 comprising the input device 100 may be configuredwith reference to the same singular grid 330. Although only one secondelectrode 204 is shown in FIG. 3, it is intended that one or more othersecond sensor electrodes 204, and optionally one or more of the firstsensor electrodes 202, may be similarly constructed.

The second sensor electrodes 204 includes a body 302 formed by thetraces 210. The body 302 is connected to the processing system 110 bythe conductive routing line 264, which includes the portion 260 disposedon the substrate 216.

The traces 210 forming the body 302 are arranged in a conductive mesh306 that includes an interior portion 308 bounded by a terminal portion310. The interior portion 308 includes traces 210 intersecting atinterior intersections 304 and boundary intersections 312. The boundaryintersections 312 circumscribe the interior intersections 304 andseparate the terminal portion 310 from the interior intersections 304.For clarity, the boundary intersections 312 are illustratedinterconnected by dashed line 340.

The terminal portions 310 extend from the boundary intersection 312 ofthe interior portion 308 to a terminal end 314. The terminal end 314defines the outer perimeter (extents) of the body 302. Each portion ofthe trace 210 disposed in the terminal portions 310 extend from one ofthe boundary intersections 312 and ends at the terminal end 314. Theterminal end 314 of the trace 210 may be free and unattached to othertraces 210, for form an intersection with a neighboring adjacent trace210 disposed in the terminal portions 310. Other than traces 210intersecting at a terminal end 314, the traces 210 do not intersectwithin the terminal portion 310 between the boundary intersections 312and the terminal ends 314.

As discussed above, the body 302 is defined in size by the terminal ends314, which together, form the perimeter of the body 302. The perimeterof the body 302 depicted in FIG. 3 includes edges 316, 318, 320, 322arranged to form a rectangle. Of course, the body 302 may have anynumber of edges and be shaped in other polygonal or other geometricalforms. For example, an adjacent pair of the edges 316, 318, 320, 322 onneighboring sensor electrodes may be interleaved, parallel, linear, wavyor have another geometrical interface. As shown in the enlarged portionof FIG. 3, the terminal ends 314 defining the edges 316, 318 may includeone or more closed terminations 324, i.e., formed by the coupling ofneighboring terminal end 314, and/or one or more open terminations 326,i.e., formed by a terminal portion 310 having an unconnected and freeterminal end 314. It is desirable, in at least some embodiments, thatone or more of the terminal ends 314 of adjacent traces 210 areconnected at the edges 316, 318, 320, 322 of the body 302. It is alsodesirable, in at least some embodiments, that one or more of theconnected terminal ends 314 of adjacent traces 210 are aligned with theimaginary grid 330. By ending adjacent traces 210 of the body 302 atconnected terminal ends 314 in alignment with the imaginary grid 330,the conductor density, and thus performance, of the sensor electrode maybe enhanced.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the orientation of the angles 218, 220 andspacing 224, 226 of the traces 210 forming the body 302 defines theimaginary grid 330. The grid 330, illustrated by unfilled lines 332 inFIG. 3, is defined by the periodicity, angles and configuration of thetraces 210 forming the interior portion 308 of the conductive mesh 306,wherein indices 334 of the grid 330 align with interior intersections304 of the traces 210 within the interior portion 308 of the conductivemesh 306. The terminal portion 310 of the body 302, and optionally theportion 260 of the conductive routing line 264 may not necessarilyconform, e.g., overlay, the grid 330 as further discussed below. Theinterior intersections 304 of the traces 210 within the interior portion308 of the conductive mesh 306 define a first periodicity 370 and asecond periodicity 372 which align with the imaginary grid 330. As such,the imaginary grid 330 has the same periodicity 370, 372. In at leastsome embodiments, it is desirable that one or both of the width (in theX direction) of the body 302 be a 0.5 multiple of distance defined bythe periodicity 370 and the height (in the Y direction) of the body 302be a 0.5 multiple of distance defined by the periodicity 372, whichenhances density uniform of the traces 210 across the body 302, andbetween adjacent bodies 302 of neighboring sensor electrodes. In atleast some embodiments, it is also desirable that one or both of theperiodicity 370 and the periodicity 372 be a 0.5 multiple of theperiodicity of the pixels 206.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the sensor device 150 showndisposed over a portion of the display device 160. Although the displaydevice 160 is shown with pixels 206 segmented into RGB subpixels, othersubpixel configurations may be utilized. The imaginary grid 330 is alsodepicted in FIG. 4. In the portion of the sensor device 150 shown inFIG. 4, portions of two first sensor electrodes 202, portions 260 ofthree conductive routing lines 264, and portion of one second sensorelectrode 204 are shown with the grid 330 overlaying the array of pixels206.

It is desirable to have high conductor density within the sensorelectrodes 202, 204 to enhance performance, but is converselyundesirable for the conductor density to be so high as to undesirablymake the sensor electrodes 202, 204 visible or to create moiré patterns.Unfortunately, increasing the conductor density undesirably makes thesensor electrodes 202, 202 block an excessive amount of light. To obtaindesirable conductor density, the sensor electrodes 202, 204 and portions260 of the conductive routing lines 264 are closely packed. To obtaindesirable low visibility, sensor electrodes 202, 204 and portions 260 ofthe conductive routing lines 264 may be configured to block only a smallfraction, such as less than about 20 percent, or even less than 10percent, of the light emitted by the display device 160. To preventmoiré pattern generation, it is desirable for each trace 210 to repeatthe coverage pattern of the underlying pixels 206 across the sensorelectrodes 202, 204. In such a closely packed configuration, the traces210 at the adjacent edges 318, 322 of neighboring bodies 302 must not beso close as to allow arcing or other electrical communication whichwould reduce the performance of the input device 100.

In some embodiments of the invention, the terminal portions 310 of thetraces 210 are “displaced” relative the interior portion of the traces210 comprising the body 302 of at least one of the electrodes 202, 204.As utilized herein with reference to the portion of the traces 210comparing the terminal ends 314, the term “displaced” means that atleast a portion if not all of the terminal portions 310 of the traces210 diverges, i.e., is not aligned with or is offset, from the imaginarygrid 330. As utilized herein with reference to the portion of the traces210 comparing the terminal ends 314, the term “non-diverged” means thetheoretical position that the displaced terminal ends 314 would haveoccupied if the trace 210 was not displaced, i.e., the theoreticalposition is aligned with the imaginary grid 330. For example, one ormore of the terminal ends 314 of the terminal portions 310 shown in theenlarged portion of the body 302 of the second electrodes 202 _(N) and204 _(m) are displaced, i.e., offset from, the grid 330.

In at least some embodiments, it is advantageous for the displacedterminal ends 314 to cover a subpixel of the same color that would havebeen covered it the terminal end 314 had been in its “non-diverged”theoretical position in alignment with the imaginary grid 330.

Referring to the enlarged portion of FIG. 4 labeled FIG. 4A, thedisplaced terminal ends 314 of the first sensor electrode 202 ₂ thatterminate in the closed termination 324 are illustrated in a displacedposition 430. That is, the displaced position 430 is offset from anon-diverged position 432 coinciding with the imaginary grid 330.Likewise, the displaced terminal end 314 of the first sensor electrode202 ₂ that terminates in the open termination 326 is illustrated in adisplaced position 434. That is, the displaced position 434 is offsetfrom a non-diverged position 436 coinciding with the imaginary grid 330.As illustrated in Detail 4A, the displaced positions 430, 434 of thedisplaced terminal ends remain within (i.e., over) the same respectivesubpixel as would the trace 210 cover if the trace 210 had beenpositioned in the non-diverged position 432, 436. In this manner, theamount of light blockage by the trace 210 for a given subpixel colorsubstantially does not change across the body 302 of the first sensorelectrode 202 ₂. The amount and direction of the displacement of thetrace 210 allows a gap 460 defined between sensor electrodes to betailored with minimal effect on light blockage or moiré patterngeneration. Other sensor electrodes and/or conductive routing lines maybe similarly configured.

Referring now to a second enlarged portion of FIG. 4 labeled FIG. 4B,the traces 210 comprising the adjacent portions 260 of conductiverouting lines 264 are illustrated. In the embodiment depicted in FIG.4B, the traces 210 comprising at least one of the portions 260 of theconductive routing lines 264 are substantially displaced form theimaginary grid 330. For example, the conductive routing line 264indicated as 480 in FIG. 4B includes traces 210 which have the sameperiodicity 370, 372 as the interior portion 308 of the body 302 of thesecond sensor electrode 204 _(m), and substantially aligns with theimaginary grid 330. For example, ends 484 of the traces 210 comprisingconductive routing line 480 are aligned with the indices 334 of thelines 332 forming the imaginary grid 330. The conductive routing line264 indicated as 482 immediately adjacent to conductive routing line 480has substantially the same periodicity 370, 372 as the conductiverouting line 480, but at least some of the traces 210 comprising theconductive routing line 482 are displaced relative the imaginary grid330. For example, ends 486 of the traces 210 comprising conductiverouting line 482 are displaced from the imaginary grid 330 by apredefined amount which is substantially uniform over lengths of withthe lines 480, 482 are adjacent. In other words, a distance betweenadjacent ends 484, 486 of the conductive routing lines 480, 482 aresubstantially equal. Moreover, since the displaced ends 486 remain overthe same subpixel (G in the example illustrated in FIG. 4B) as would thetrace 210 if in a non-diverged position 488, the traces 210 of theconductive routing line 482 block substantially the same fraction oflight from each subpixel, which contributes to reducing the visibilityof the conductive routing line 482.

FIG. 5A depicts another embodiment of traces 210 comprising the adjacentportions 260 of the conductive routing lines 264 wherein the conductiverouting lines 264 have a width less than the periodicity 370 of theinterior portion 308 of the body 302 of the sensor electrode to whichthe conductive routing lines 264 is attached, here shown as the secondsensor electrode 204 _(M). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5A, theportion 260 of the conductive routing line 264, now referred to asconductive routing line 502, has a width less than the periodicity 370of the interior portion 308 of the body 302 to which the conductiverouting line 502 is attached, for example, the second sensor electrode204 _(M). For example, the width of the conductive routing line 502 maybe 0.5 (or other fraction) of the periodicity 370. The periodicity inthe long (Y direction) of the conductive routing line 502 may besubstantially equal to the periodicity 372. In this manner, the traces210 comprising the conductive routing line 502 are substantially alignedwith the imaginary grid 330 and the traces 210 comprising the body 302.An immediately adjacent portion 260 of the conductive routing line 264,now referred to as conductive routing line 504, has a width similar tothe width of the conductive routing line 502. The conductive routingline 504 also has the same periodicity as the conductive routing line502, but at least some of the traces 210 comprising the conductiverouting line 504 are displaced relative the imaginary grid 330. In otherwords, the periodicity of the conductive routing line 504 is the same asthe periodicity in both the X and Y directions as the conductive routingline 502, but only the conductive routing line 502 and not theconductive routing line 504 overlays the imaginary grid 330.

For example, the traces 210 comprising conductive routing line 502 havethe same geometrical configuration and dimensions as the traces 210comprising conductive routing line 504, but only one of the conductiverouting lines 502, 504 is displaced from the imaginary grid 330. Sincethe displaced traces 210 of the conductive routing line 504 remain overthe same subpixel (G in the example illustrated in FIG. 5A) as would thetrace 210 if a non-diverged position aligned with the imaginary grid330, the traces 210 of the conductive routing line 504 blocksubstantially the same fraction of light from each subpixel, whichcontributes to reducing the visibility of the conductive routing line504.

In some embodiments, the longer traces 210 comprising the conductiverouting line 504 are oriented favoring the long direction of the routingline 504. In this manner, the resistance is minimized to improve sensorresponse time. Additionally, by configuring the conductive routing line504 with the same periodicity (370, 372) as the body 302, the visualdifferences between the conductive routing line 504 and sensorelectrodes 202, 204 are reduced.

FIG. 5B depicts another embodiment of traces 210 comprising the adjacentportions 260 of the conductive routing lines 264 wherein the conductiverouting lines 264 have a width less than the periodicity 370 of theinterior portion 308 of the body 302 of the sensor electrode to whichthe conductive routing lines 264 is attached, here shown as the secondsensor electrode 204 _(M). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5B, theportion 260 of the conductive routing line 264, now referred to asconductive routing line 512, has a width less than the periodicity 370of the interior portion 308 of the body 302 to which the conductiverouting line 512 is attached, for example, the second sensor electrode204 _(M). For example, the width of the conductive routing line 512 maybe 0.5 (or other fraction) of the periodicity 370. The periodicity inthe long (Y direction) of the conductive routing line 512 may besubstantially equal to the periodicity 372. At least some of the traces210 comprising the conductive routing line 512 are displaced relativethe imaginary grid 330. However, displaced ends 516 of the traces 210comprising the conductive routing line 512 remain over the same subpixel(G in the example illustrated in FIG. 5B) as would the trace 210 if anon-diverged position aligned with the imaginary grid 330. Thus, thetraces 210 of the conductive routing line 512 block substantially thesame portion (or fraction) of light from each subpixel, whichcontributes to reducing the visibility of the conductive routing line512.

An immediately adjacent portion 260 of the conductive routing line 264,now referred to as conductive routing line 514, has a width similar tothe width of the conductive routing line 512. The conductive routingline 514 also has the same periodicity as the conductive routing line512, and at least some of the traces 210 comprising the conductiverouting line 514 are displaced relative the imaginary grid 330. In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 5B, displaced ends 518 of the traces 210comprising the conductive routing line 514 remain over the same subpixel(G in the example illustrated in FIG. 5B) as would the trace 210 if anon-diverged position aligned with the imaginary grid 330. Thus, thetraces 210 of the conductive routing line 514 block substantially thesame portion (or fraction) of light from each subpixel, whichcontributes to reducing the visibility of the conductive routing line514. Additionally, as adjacent ends 516, 518 of the traces 210comprising neighboring conductive routing lines 512, 514 are displacedto opposite sides of the indices 334 of the lines 332 forming theimaginary grid 330 overlaying the interface between the lines 512, 514,the conductor density of the lines 512, 514 may be better balancedacross the sensing region 120 while ensuring that substantially the sameportion (or fraction) of light is blocked from each subpixel, whichcontributes to reducing the visibility of the conductive routing lines512, 514.

The displaced terminal ends 314 of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁ (orother sensor electrode) may have many alternative configurations. FIGS.6-9 discussed below are provided by way of example, and are not intendedto be inclusive of all variations in which the invention may bepracticed or to limit the scope of the claims.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of facing edges 320, 316 of one embodiment of thesecond sensor electrode 204 _(M) and first sensor electrode 202 ₁. Thedisplaced terminal portions 310 of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁,illustrated in FIG. 6 as terminal portions 602, are at least partiallydisplaced from the imaginary grid 330. Adjacent terminal portions 602are joined at closed terminations 606. The displaced terminal portions310 of the second sensor electrode 204 _(M), illustrated in FIG. 6 asterminal portions 604, are also at least partially displaced from theimaginary grid 330. Adjacent terminal portions 604 are joined at closedterminations 608. The closed terminations 606, 608 have the sameperiodicity 372 as the body 302 of the sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204_(M). However, the closed terminations 606 are 180 degrees out of phasewith the closed terminations 608. That is, the closed terminations 606are aligned horizontally (in the X-direction) with the boundaryintersections 312 of the second sensor electrode 204 _(M), while theclosed terminations 608 are aligned horizontally with the boundaryintersections 312 of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁. The relationbetween the closed terminations 606, 608 can also be described as beingmirrored in the x-direction, and shifted ½ the periodicity 372 in they-direction. The closed terminations 606, 608 remain over the samesubpixel (G and R, respectively in the example illustrated in FIG. 6) aswould the trace 210 if a non-diverged position aligned with theimaginary grid 330. Thus, the traces 210 in the terminal portions 310 ofthe sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M) block substantially the sameportion (or fraction) of light from each subpixel, which contributes toreducing the visibility of the sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M).

FIG. 7 is a plan view of facing edges 320, 316 of another embodiment ofthe second sensor electrode 204 _(M) and first sensor electrode 202 ₁.The displaced terminal portions 310 of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁,illustrated in FIG. 7 as terminal portions 702, are at least partiallydisplaced from the imaginary grid 330. Adjacent terminal portions 702are joined at closed terminations 706 uniformly displaced to a firstside of the indices 334 of the lines 332 forming the imaginary grid 330.The displaced terminal portions 310 of the second sensor electrode 204_(M), illustrated in FIG. 7 as terminal portions 704, are also at leastpartially displaced from the imaginary grid 330. Adjacent terminalportions 704 are joined at closed terminations 708 uniformly displacedto a second side of the indices 334 of the lines 332 forming theimaginary grid 330, that is, to a side opposite of the closedterminations 706 (in the Y direction). The closed terminations 706, 708have the same periodicity 372 as the body 302 of the sensor electrodes202 ₁, 204 _(M). The closed terminations 706, 708 substantially remainover the same subpixel (G and R, respectively in the example illustratedin FIG. 7) as would the trace 210 if a non-diverged position alignedwith the imaginary grid 330. Thus, the traces 210 in the terminalportions 310 of the sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M) blocksubstantially the same portion (or fraction) of light from eachsubpixel, which contributes to reducing the visibility of the sensorelectrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M).

FIG. 8 is a plan view of facing edges 320, 316 of another embodiment ofthe second sensor electrode 204 _(M) and first sensor electrode 202 ₁.The displaced terminal portion 310 of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁,illustrated in FIG. 8 as terminal portions 802, have a first portion 801aligned with the imaginary grid 330 and a second portion 805 extendingfrom the first portion 801 and terminating in terminal ends 314. Thesecond portion 805 of the terminal portion 802 is displaced from theimaginary grid 330. Adjacent ends 314 of the terminal portions 802 arejoined at closed terminations 806 uniformly displaced to a first side ofthe indices 334 of the lines 332 forming the imaginary grid 330. Thedisplaced terminal portions 310 of the second sensor electrode 204 _(M),illustrated in FIG. 8 as terminal portions 804, have a first portion 803aligned with the imaginary grid 330 and a second portion 807 extendingfrom the first portion 803 and terminating in terminal ends 314. Thesecond portion 807 of the terminal portion 804 is displaced from theimaginary grid 330. Adjacent ends 314 of the terminal portions 804 arejoined at closed terminations 808 uniformly displaced to a second sideof the indices 334 of the lines 332 forming the imaginary grid 330, thatis, to a side opposite of the closed terminations 806 (in the Ydirection). The closed terminations 806, 808 have the same periodicity372 as the body 302 of the sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M). The closedterminations 806, 808 substantially remain over the same subpixel (G andR, respectively in the example illustrated in FIG. 8) as would the trace210 if a non-diverged position aligned with the imaginary grid 330.Thus, the traces 210 in the terminal portions 310 of the sensorelectrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M) block substantially the same portion (orfraction) of light from each subpixel, which contributes to reducing thevisibility of the sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M).

FIG. 9 is a plan view of facing edges 320, 316 of another embodiment ofthe second sensor electrode 204 _(M) and first sensor electrode 202 ₁.The terminal portion 310 of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁ areillustrated in FIG. 9 as displaced terminal portions 902 and alignedterminal portions 903. The displaced terminal portions 902 have aportion at least partially displaced from the imaginary grid 330. Thealigned terminal portions 903 are at least partially aligned with theimaginary grid 330. Adjacent ends 314 of the terminal portions 902, 903are not joined and end at open terminations 906. The displaced ends 314of the displaced terminal portions 902 are uniformly displaced to afirst side of the lines 332 forming the imaginary grid 330.

The displaced terminal portions 310 of the second sensor electrode 204_(M) are illustrated in FIG. 9 as displaced terminal portions 904 andaligned terminal portions 905. The displaced terminal portions 904 areat least partially displaced from the imaginary grid 330. The alignedterminal portions 905 are at least partially aligned with the imaginarygrid 330. Adjacent ends 314 of the terminal portions 904, 905 are notjoined and end at open terminations 908. The open terminations 908 ofthe displaced terminal portions 904 are uniformly displaced to a firstside of the lines 332 forming the imaginary grid 330, that is, to sameside of the open terminations 906 (in the Y direction) of the displacedterminal portions 902. The open terminations 906, 908 have the sameperiodicity 372 as the body 302 of the sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204_(M). The open terminations 906, 908 substantially remain over the samesubpixel (G and R, respectively in the example illustrated in FIG. 9) aswould the trace 210 if a non-diverged position aligned with theimaginary grid 330. Thus, the traces 210 in the terminal portions 310 ofthe sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M) block substantially the sameportion (or fraction) of light from each subpixel, which contributes toreducing the visibility of the sensor electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M).

As discussed above, other attributes of the traces 210 such as thedensity uniformity of the traces 210 (and other light occludingmaterial) across the sensor device 150 comprising the sensor electrodes202, 204, will affect how visually detectable of the sensor electrodes202, 204 are to the human eye. Thus, in at least some embodiments, it isdesirable to maintain a substantially uniform density of light occludingmaterial (i.e., the traces 210 and other light occluding elements) perunit area across the sensing region 120. The unit area can be an area ofa single pixel, or an area that can be resolved by the eye. For example,approximately 1 minute of arc is about the smallest useful area humanvision may resolve. Thus, for sensor devices 150 disposed at arm'slength (approximately 500 mm), a unit area may have a mean diameter of0.14 mm or greater (about 0.0154 mm²). For a sensor devices 150 heldcloser the eye, a reasonable unit area may have a mean diameter of about0.1 mm in diameter or greater (about 0.0073 mm²). Of course, the aboveexamples of unit area are not intended to limit the scope of the claims,and larger unit areas may be utilized.

FIG. 10 is a partial plan schematic view of one embodiment of a sensordevice 150 having sensor electrodes 202, 204. The sensor electrodes 202,204 may be constructed as described herein, or in another manner whichprovides density uniformity of light occluding material, i.e., thetraces 210 and other light occluding elements, across the sensor device150 as further described below. The sensor device 150 includes theportions 260 of the conductive routing lines 264 disposed on thesubstrate 216 and connected to sensor electrodes 204 ₁, 204 ₂, and 204_(M). The portion 260 of the conductive routing line 262 connected tosensor electrodes 202 ₁ may be similarly configured.

The sensor device 150 illustrated in FIG. 10 includes 5 imaginary boxesdemarking unit areas in different regions of the sensor device 150 whichoverlay the display device 160. The size of the unit areas is generallyan area that can be resolved by the eye as described above. The unitareas encompass different combinations of sensor electrodes and orconductive routing lines, and some of the unit area also encompassportions of the black matrix (e.g., interpixel area) or are entirelywithin the body. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, unit area 1002encompasses portions of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁ and the secondsensor electrode 204 ₁, wherein only two edges 316, 320 of the sensorelectrodes (e.g., one from each electrodes 202 ₁, 204 _(M)) pass arewithin the boundaries of the unit area 1002. Unit area 1004 encompassesportions of the first sensor electrode 202 ₁, the second sensorelectrodes 204 ₁ and the second sensor electrode 204 ₂, wherein three ormore edges (shown as four edges, edge 316 of the first sensor electrode202 ₁, edges 320, 322 of the second sensor electrode 204 ₁, and edges318, 320 of the second sensor electrode 204 ₂) of the sensor electrodespass are within the boundaries of the unit area 1004. Unit area 1006encompasses only portions of the interior portion 308 of one of thesensor electrodes 202, 204, shown in FIG. 10 over the first sensorelectrode 202 ₁. Unit area 1008 encompasses portions of the secondsensor electrodes 204 _(M) and the portion 260 of the conductive routingline 264 disposed on the substrate 216 (not shown in FIG. 10). Unit area1010 encompasses portions of neighboring portions 260 of conductiverouting lines 264 disposed on the substrate 216.

In the example described with reference to FIG. 10 and other embodimentsdescribed herein, the plan area of the light occluding materials (i.e.,the traces 210 and light occluding elements) within a predefined unitarea, i.e., specific areal density, will be referred to as the “blockagearea”. The blockage area is intended encompass all light occludingmaterial, such as the traces 210 alone, the traces 210 and other lightoccluding elements, and light occluding elements alone. The blockagearea for the traces 210 may be determined using the width, spacing andangular orientation of the traces 210 within a given unit area. Examplesof light occluding elements are described below with reference to FIGS.12-17. The blockage area in at least two or more, including anycombinations, of the units areas 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010 aresubstantially equal, for example, within less than about 5%, and whereinless visibility is desired, less than about 2%. At equal to or less thanabout 1%, the traces and light occluding elements will be substantiallyinvisible. For example, the blockage area within unit area 1006 may besubstantially equal to the blockage area attributable to the traces 210and other light occluding elements, if present, within one or more ofthe unit areas 1002, 1004, 1008, and 1010. By having the blockage areabe substantially equal across least two or more of the units areas 1002,1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, the amount of pixel light blocked, for exampleby the traces 210, is substantially uniform across these areas, thusreducing and/or eliminating perceptible visual differences across thesensor device 150, and thus enhancing the performance of the displaydevice 160 without diminishing touch sensing performance of the inputdevice 100.

To compensate of the lack of traces 210 across the gap 460 definedbetween sensor electrodes 202, 204 and/or conductive routing traces 264,the plan area of light occluding material in the terminal portions 310of the sensor electrodes 202, 204 may differ, for example be greater,than the blockage area solely attributable to the traces 210 within theinterior portion 308 of the body 302. This may be accomplished byincreasing one or more of the width, decreasing the spacing and changingthe angular orientation of the traces 210 within terminal portions 310relative to the traces 210 present in the interior portion 308 of thebody 302. Additionally or in the alternative, the plan area of lightoccluding material in the terminal portions 310 of the sensor electrodes202, 204 may be increased, thereby increasing the plan area attributableto light occluding elements in the terminal portions 310 of the sensorelectrodes 202, 204.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of two crossing traces 210 havingsubstantially uniform trace width. The crossing traces 210 may be formedas a single layer of material on the substrate 216, or on differentlayers stacked in the input device 100. At the intersection of thetraces 210, an intersecting portion 1102 has a plan area equivalent tothe portion of a single trace that is shared (e.g., overlaps) theintersecting second trace. Accordingly, the total plan area of theintersecting traces 210 is less than that of two non-intersecting traces210 of equal length, or for example when traces intersect at 90 degrees,the product of the widths of each trace. Thus, the plan area theintersecting portion 1102 may be modified to increase the total planarea of the two crossing traces 210 to substantially that of twonon-intersecting traces 210 of equal length within a unit area.Increasing the total plan area of the two crossing traces 210 may berealized by modifying the traces 210 at or near the intersecting portion1102, and alternatively or in addition, adding light occluding at ornear the intersecting portion 1102.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of two crossing traces 210 configuredto have a greater plan area relative to the embodiment depicted in FIG.11 that has substantially uniform trace width. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 12, the crossing traces 210 may be formed as a singlelayer of material on the substrate 216. The traces 210 intersect at anintersecting portion 1202, wherein the intersecting portion 1202includes the plan area 1102 associated with the widths of the crossingtraces 210 and also includes one or more attached light occludingelements 1204 formed between at least two adjacent portions of thetraces 210. The light occluding element 1204 may have any convenientplan form, and in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 12, the lightoccluding element 1204 is in a form of a radius defined between thetraces 210 meeting at the intersecting portion 1202. The plan areaattributable to the light occluding element 1204 may be about equal tothe plan area of the intersecting portion 1102. Thus, the intersectingportion 1202 has a plan area greater than that of the portion of asingle trace that is shared (e.g., overlaps) an intersecting secondtrace, thereby improving the plan area uniformity and consequently,reducing the visual perceptibility of the sensor electrodes 202, 204.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of two crossing traces 210 configuredto have a greater plan area relative to the embodiment depicted in FIG.11 that has substantially uniform trace width. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 13, the crossing traces 210 may be formed as a singlelayer of material on the substrate 216. The traces 210 intersect at anintersecting portion 1302, wherein the intersecting portion 1302includes the plan area 1102 associated with the widths of the crossingtraces 210 and also includes one or more attached light occludingelements 1304 formed between at least two adjacent portions of thetraces 210. The light occluding element 1304 may have any convenientplan form, and in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 13 the light occludingelement 1304 is in the form of a web connecting the traces 210 definingthe intersecting portion 1302. The light occluding element 1304 may beof any suitable plan area, and in one embodiment, plan area attributableto the light occluding element 1304 may be about equal to the plan areaof the intersecting portion 1102. Thus, the intersecting portion 1302has a plan area greater than that of the portion of a single trace thatis shared (e.g., overlaps) an intersecting second trace, therebyimproving the plan area uniformity and consequently, reducing the visualperceptibility of the sensor electrodes 202, 204.

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of two crossing traces 210 configuredto have a greater plan area relative to the embodiment depicted in FIG.11 that has substantially uniform trace width. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 14, the crossing traces 210 may be formed as a singlelayer of material on the substrate 216, or on different layers stackedin the input device 100. At the intersection of the traces 210, anintersecting portion 1402 has a plan area equivalent to that of theportion of a single trace that is shared (e.g., overlaps) anintersecting second trace, such as the intersecting portion 1102, orless than about twice that of the intersecting portion 1102. Theintersecting portion 1402 may be similar in plan area to theintersecting portions 1102, 1202, 1302.

One or more detached light occluding elements 1410 proximate theintersection of the traces 210, and contribute to the plan area of theintersecting portion 1402. The one or more detached light occludingelements 1410 may be disposed on the same substrate 216 as one or moreof the traces 210 comprising the intersecting portion 1402 asillustrated in FIG. 14, or on a second substrate 1502 stacked over thesubstrate 216 within the input device 100 as illustrated in FIG. 15. Thedetached light occluding elements 1410 are fabricated from a materialthat is opaque or that blocks the light generated by the pixels 206,thus contributing to the total blocked plan area of the light occludingmaterial in a given unit area of the sensor device 150. The detachedlight occluding elements 1410 may be fabricated from a conductivematerial, such as a conductive material suitable for fabrication of thetraces 210. Alternatively, the detached light occluding elements 1410may be fabricated from a suitable dielectric material. The detachedlight occluding elements 1410, being spaced from the traces 210, are notelectrically connected with the traces 210.

The detached light occluding elements 1410 may have any suitablegeometry and size. In the embodiment, the plan area, determined by thenumber and size of the detached light occluding elements 1410, may beselected to increase the total blocked plan area of the intersectingportion 1402 up to about twice the plan area the intersecting portion1102.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 14, the traces 210 and detached lightoccluding elements 1410 are disposed on the same substrate 216. Thetraces 210 and detached light occluding elements 1410 may be on the sameor opposite sides of the substrate 216. The detached light occludingelements 1410 are shown positioned laterally space from the traces 210,between the vertices of intersecting portion 1402.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15, the traces 210 comprising atleast one of the sensor electrodes 202, 204 are disposed on thesubstrate 216, while the detached light occluding elements 1410 aredisposed on the second substrate 1502 stacked over the substrate 216within the input device 100. The detached light occluding elements 1410are shown positioned laterally space from the traces 210, but betweenthe vertices of intersecting portion 1402 once the substrates 216, 1502are vertically stacked.

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of two crossing traces 210 configuredto have a greater plan area relative to the embodiment depicted in FIG.11 that has substantially uniform trace width. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 16, the crossing traces 210 may be formed as a singlelayer of material on the substrate 216. The traces 210 intersect at anintersecting portion 1602, wherein the intersecting portion 1602includes one or more attached light occluding elements 1604 formedbetween at least two adjacent portions of the traces 210. The lightoccluding element 1604 may have any form, and in the embodiment depictedin FIG. 16 the light occluding element 1604 is in the form of a traceconnecting the traces 210 defining the intersecting portion 1602, suchthat the light occluding element 1604 comprising the intersectingportion 1602 does not align with the web 330 (not shown in FIG. 16). Forexample, an open area 1608 may be bounded within the intersectingportion 1602 by the light occluding elements 1604 that couple adjacenttraces 210. The light occluding elements 1604 may be of any suitableplan area, and in one embodiment, plan area attributable to the lightoccluding element 1604 may be about equal to the plan area of theintersecting portion 1102. Thus, the intersecting portion 1602 has aplan area greater than that of the portion of a single trace that isshared (e.g., overlaps) an intersecting second trace, thereby improvingthe plan area uniformity and consequently, reducing the visualperceptibility of the sensor electrodes 202, 204.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of two traces 210 having terminal ends314, one with configured with an attached light occluding element 1710.The second terminal end 314 is disposed adjacent a detached lightoccluding element 1712. Although both attached and detached lightoccluding elements 1710, 1712 are illustrated in FIG. 17, the sensorelectrodes 202, 204 may be configured with solely attached lightoccluding elements 1710, solely detached light occluding elements 1712,or combinations thereof.

The attached light occluding element 1710 is a deviation to the localplan area over a short segment of the trace 210. Here, the attachedlight occluding element 1710 is illustrated as an increased width of thetrace 210 comprising the terminal end 314. The attached light occludingelement 1710 may be utilized to compensate for the reduction in planarea of the terminal end 314 of a trace 210 at an edge of a sensorelectrode having an open terminations 326 (as shown in FIG. 4A) which isdisplaced from the grid 330, or to compensate for the absence of traces210 in the gap 460 between neighboring sensor electrodes or conductiverouting lines (as shown in FIG. 18). The detached light occludingelements 1712 may be disposed close to the terminal end 314 to providesimilar effects.

The intersecting portion 1702 may be configured similar to the similarto the intersecting portion 1402. Thus, the attached light occludingelements 1710 and/or detached light occluding elements 1712 may haveselected with any suitable geometry and size such that the plan area,determined by the number and size of the light occluding elements 1710,1712, may be selected to increase the total blocked plan area of a unitarea that includes open terminations 326 such that the blocked plan areais uniform across different areas (such as unit areas illustrated inFIG. 10) to prevent undesired visual effects.

FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view of traces 210 of different sensorelectrodes 202, 204 aligned across a gap 460. A terminal end 314 of eachtrace 210 includes an attached light occluding element 1710. The sizeand geometry and size of the light occluding element 1710 may beselected to compensate for the lack of traces 210 across the 460 so thatthe total plan area in a unit area spanning the gap 460, such as unitarea 1002, 1004, 1006 illustrated in FIG. 10, so that the blocked planarea is uniform across different unit area to prevent undesired visualeffects.

FIG. 19 is an exploded plan view of one embodiment of an input device1900. The input device 1900 is substantially similar to the input device100 described above, except that the sensor elements 202, 204 aredisposed on different substrates 216, 1902. The substrate 1902 havingthe sensor elements 204 may be part of, or on top of, the display device160, and in one embodiment, the sensor elements 204 comprise the VCOMelectrodes of the display device 160. With additional reference to FIG.20, an overlapping region 2002 is defined where one sensor element 202is vertically aligned with another sensor element 204. If theoverlapping region 2002 of the sensor elements 202, 204 had the sameblocked plan area as non-overlapping regions 2004 of the sensor elements202, 204, the total blocked plan area across larger unit areas (such asillustrated in FIG. 10) would not be uniform. Thus, at least one of thetrace pattern, trace width, and use of light occluding elements may beutilized it increase the total blocked plan area such that unit areabounded solely within a single sensor 202 may be substantially equal tounit area that includes one or more overlapping region 2002 of adjacentsensor elements 202, 204.

In addition to input devices having metal mesh sensor electrodes asdescribed above, the invention includes a method for making such sensorelectrodes for use in an input device. The method may be utilized bydesign houses and sensor fabricators. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram ofone embodiment of a method 2100 for making a mesh sensor electrode, suchas at least one of the sensor electrodes 202, 204 described above.

The method 2100 utilizes a design engine 2102 configured to generatedesign instructions 2110 for use by a fabrication device 2104. Thefabrication device 2104 may be any device suitable for forming traces210 configured and arranged as the sensor electrodes 202, 204 describedabove. The fabrication device 2104 may be configured to deposit a sheetof conductive material, then selectively remove portions of theconductive material, leaving traces 210 in a pattern forming the sensorelectrodes 202, 204. For example, the fabrication device 2104 mayinclude deposition and removal devices, such as printing devices, inkjetdevices, physical vapor deposition devices, plating devices, chemicalvapor deposition devices, and spray deposition device, among othersuitable deposition devices, while the removal device may includelithographic devices, wet etch devices, dry (plasma) etch devices, andlaser ablation devices, among other removal devices. Alternatively, thefabrication device 2104 may directly form the traces 210 and sensorelectrodes 202, 204. For example, the fabrication device 2104 may be anink jet printing device, stamping devices, and plating devices, amongother fabrication devices.

The design instructions 2110 generated by the design engine 2102 is in aform suitable for providing and/or generating machine instructionsexecutable by the fabrication device 2104 to generate the traces 210 andsensor electrodes 202, 204. For example, the design instructions 2110may be an output CAD or CAM file, such as DXF, Gerber and GDSII, amongothers. The design instructions 2110 may reside in the design engine2102 and be accessed by the fabrication device 2104. The designinstructions 2110 may alternatively loaded into memory of a processorcontrolling the function of fabrication device 2104. The designinstructions 2110 may also be transferred to a memory or processor ofthe fabrication device 2104 from the design engine 2102, for example,over a network or as computer readable media disposed on a portabledigital storage device. The design instructions 2110 may be for acomplete sensing device 150, or the design instructions 2110 may bepartial, specifying any portion of the sensing device 150.

The design engine 2102 generally includes a processor 2114, memory 2116and control circuits 2118 for the processor 2114 and facilitates controlof the fabrication device 2104 and, as such, of the sensor electrodedesign process, as discussed below in further detail. The processor 2114may be one of any form of general-purpose computer processor that can beused for generating machine instructions executable by the fabricationdevice 2104. The memory 2116 of the processor 2114 may be one or more ofreadily available memory such as random access memory (RAM), read onlymemory (ROM), floppy disk, hard disk, or any other form of digitalstorage, local or remote. The support circuits 2118 are coupled to theprocessor 2114 for supporting the processor in a conventional manner.These circuits 2118 may include cache, power supplies, clock circuits,input/output circuitry and subsystems, and the like. A program 2120 isstored in the memory 2106 or other computer-readable medium accessibleto the processor 2114 and executable as a software routine to generatethe fabrication instructions 2110. An exemplary program 2120 which maybe adapted to practice the invention include Design Studio™ 4 (DS4),available from Synaptics. Inc., located in Santa Clara, Calif.

The design engine 2102 allows a user, such as a design house, an inputdevice provider, a sensor fabricator and the like, to input attributesof the sensor electrodes and display device, illustrated as displayinputs 2130 and sensor input 2132, to obtain an input device havingreduced visual effects. The display inputs 2130 generally includedisplay size, display type, display orientation (landscape or portrait),pixel pitch, pixel layout and the like.

The design engine 2102 may be configured to provide an optimal sensorelectrode layout (i.e., relative positions of one sensor electrode toanother) for a particular mesh configuration, or provide an optimal meshconfiguration for a predetermined sensor layout.

For example, the user may indicate as one of the sensor inputs 2132 thata predefined layout geometry of sensors 202, 204 is desired, which thatthe design engine 2102 determines one or more of the mesh patternattributes, i.e., the spacing 224, 226, angles 218, 220, width of thetraces 210, trace material, trace thickness, position of the terminalends 314 relative to the grid 330, and the like. The design engine 2102may provide sensor reflectance or transmittance, which affects howvisible the sensor electrodes are, and sensor conductor density, whichaffects sensor electrical performance, of the sensor electrode designinitially generated by the design engine 2102 as a feed-back output tothe user. Thus, if the user does not wish to utilize the reflectance ortransmittance or sensor conductor initial density determined by thedesign engine 2102, the user may set a desired amount of reflectance ortransmittance and/or sensor conductor density by inputting a value forthe reflectance or transmittance and/or sensor conductor density to thedesign engine 2102 as a sensor input 2102, for which in turn the designengine 2102 will recalculate the mesh pattern attributes and/or sensorelectrode layout having the desired reflectance or transmittance and/orsensor conductor density. Any one or more of the mesh pattern attributesmay also be provided by the user as a sensor input 2130, so that thedesign engine 2102 provides an output having the desired visual andperformance characteristics.

For example, the user may wish for the design engine 2102 to determineone or more of the mesh pattern attributes along with the layoutgeometry of sensors 202, 204. The design engine 2102 may again providesensor reflectance or transmittance and sensor conductor density of themesh electrode design initially generated by the design engine 2102 as afeed-back output to the user. Thus, if the user does not wish to utilizethe reflectance or transmittance or sensor conductor initial densitydetermined by the design engine 2102, the user may set a desired amountof reflectance or transmittance and/or sensor conductor density byinputting a value for the reflectance or transmittance and/or sensorconductor density to the design engine 2102 as a sensor input 2102, forwhich in turn the design engine 2102 will recalculate the mesh patternattributes and/or sensor electrode layout having the desired reflectanceor transmittance and/or sensor conductor density.

In another example, the user may allow the design engine 2102 todetermine at least one or more of the sensor mesh attributes and thelayout geometry of sensors 202, 204 for a particular set of displayinputs 2130. The design engine 2102 may determine the sensor meshattributes and the layout geometry of sensors 202, 204 having aresultant sensor reflectance or transmittance and sensor conductordensity. Alternatively one or both of the sensor reflectance ortransmittance and sensor conductor density may be provide to the designengine 2102 as a sensor input 2130, so that the design engine 2102provides the desired visual and performance characteristics for theoutputted sensor mesh attributes and the layout geometry of sensors 202,204.

Thus, input device having a plurality of low-visibility sensorelectrodes and method for fabricating the same are provided. The tracesand/or sensor electrodes are arranged in a manner for minimum patternperceptibility. In some embodiment, the traces may be electricallyconnected to one another to form macroscopic (e.g., a single larger)sensor element which, by virtue of the configuration of the attributesof traces and/or occluding material utilized to form the sensor element,can be configured in virtually any arbitrary shape, size or orientationwhile not detrimentally affecting the visibility of an image displayedon the display device adjacent the sensing region.

1.-22. (canceled)
 23. An input device comprising: a display devicehaving an array of pixels, each pixel comprising at least a firstsubpixel having a first color and a second subpixel having a secondcolor that is different than the first color; and a plurality of sensorelectrodes disposed over the display device and configured to senseobjects in a sensing region of the input device, wherein at least afirst sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes furthercomprises: a plurality of spaced apart conductive traces forming aconductive mesh, wherein mesh having a first periodicity defined byintersections of the conductive traces forming the mesh; a terminalportion of one of the conductive traces terminating at an edge of thefirst sensor electrode has an orientation that is different than anorientation of a corresponding portion of the mesh defining the firstperiodicity; and wherein an end of the terminal portion of theconductive trace proximate the edge of the first sensor electrode layingover a subpixel having the same color as a subpixel which the end wouldlay over if the end had the same orientation as the correspondingportion of the mesh defining the first periodicity.
 24. The input deviceof claim 23, wherein the terminal end ends at an intersection withanother trace.
 25. The input device of claim 23, wherein the terminalend lays over the same subpixel which the end would lay over if the endhad the same orientation as the corresponding portion of the meshdefining the first periodicity.
 26. The input device of claim 23,wherein the terminal end lays over a different pixel which the end wouldlay over if the end had the same orientation as the correspondingportion of the mesh defining the first periodicity.
 27. The input deviceof claim 23, wherein an orientation of terminal end does not change meshdensity for a unit cell comprising the terminal end relative to meshdensity of an equally sized unit cell comprising a portion of the meshdefining the periodicity of the mesh.
 28. The input device of claim 23further comprising: a second sensor electrode having a mesh of sameperiodicity as the mesh of the first sensor electrode.
 29. The inputdevice of claim 28, wherein mesh density of a unit cell comprisingadjacent portions of the first and second sensor electrodes issubstantially equal to mesh density of an equally sized unit cellcomprising only portion of one of the first and second sensorelectrodes.
 30. The input device of claim 28, wherein mesh density of aunit cell comprising at least one routing trace coupled to the firstsensor electrode is substantially equal to mesh density of an equallysized unit cell comprising only portion of one of the first and secondsensor electrodes.
 31. The input device of claim 28, wherein meshdensity of a unit cell comprising at least one routing trace coupled tothe first sensor electrode is substantially equal to mesh density of anequally sized unit cell comprising adjacent portions of the first andsecond sensor electrodes.
 32. The input device of claim 23, wherein theconductive traces forming the mesh have a diameter less than about 10um.
 33. The input device of claim 32, wherein the conductive tracesforming the mesh form a moiré pattern with the display device, whereinthe moiré pattern comprises a spatial frequency greater than about 10cycles per centimeter.
 34. The input device of claim 23 furthercomprising: a density compensating feature fabricated from the samematerial forming the conductive traces, the density compensating featuredisposed adjacent an intersection between two conductive traces, thedensity compensating feature having an area substantially equal to anarea of the intersection limited by widths of the traces.
 35. The inputdevice of claim 34, wherein the density compensating feature formed on alayer different than a layer comprising the first sensor electrode. 36.The input device of claim 34, wherein the density compensating featureis isolated from at least one of the traces.
 37. The input device ofclaim 34, wherein the density compensating feature is electricallycoupled to at least one of the traces.
 38. The input device of claim 37,wherein the density compensating feature fills at least one verticesformed by the intersection of the traces.
 39. The input device of claim23 further comprising: a second sensor electrode having a mesh of sameperiodicity as the mesh of the first sensor electrode, the first andsecond sensor electrodes residing in different layers of the inputdevice.
 40. The input device of claim 39, wherein mesh density of a unitcell comprising adjacent portions of the first and second sensorelectrodes is substantially equal to a density of an equally sized unitcell comprising only portion of one of the first and second sensorelectrodes.
 41. The input device of claim 39, wherein mesh density of aunit cell comprising at least one routing trace coupled to the firstsensor electrode is substantially equal to mesh density of an equallysized unit cell comprising only portion of one of the first and secondsensor electrodes.
 42. The input device of claim 39, wherein meshdensity of a unit cell comprising at least one routing trace coupled tothe first sensor electrode is substantially equal to mesh density of anequally sized unit cell comprising adjacent portions of the first andsecond sensor electrodes.
 43. An input device comprising: a displaydevice having an array of pixels; and a plurality of sensor electrodesdisposed over the display device and configured to sense objects in asensing region of the input device, wherein the plurality of sensorelectrodes further comprises: a first sensor electrode comprising aplurality of spaced apart conductive traces forming a conductive mesh; asecond sensor electrode comprising a plurality of spaced apartconductive traces forming a conductive mesh; a first unit area having aplan area greater than about 0.0073 mm² defined within the first sensorelectrode; and a second unit area having a plan area greater than about0.0073 mm² defined partially within the first sensor electrode andpartially within the second sensor electrode, wherein a first blockagearea defined within the first unit area is substantially equal to asecond blockage area defined within the second unit area.
 44. A methodfor making a sensor device, the method comprising: receiving displayinformation; generating mesh sensor fabrication instructions forcreating a trace pattern for a plurality of sensor electrodes, the tracepattern having at least one of: (A) a first unit area having a plan areagreater than about 0.0073 mm² defined within a first sensor electrode ofthe plurality of sensor electrodes, and a second unit area having a planarea greater than about 0.0073 mm² defined partially within the firstsensor electrode and partially within a second sensor electrode of theplurality of sensor electrodes, wherein a first blockage area definedwithin the first unit area is substantially equal to a second blockagearea defined within the second unit area; and (B) a conductive meshhaving a first periodicity defined by intersections of the tracesforming the mesh, a terminal portion of one of the conductive tracesterminating at an edge of the a sensor electrode of the plurality ofsensor electrodes, the sensor electrode having an orientation that isdifferent than an orientation of a corresponding portion of theconductive mesh, and wherein an end of a terminal portion of theconductive trace proximate an edge of the sensor electrode laying over asubpixel having the same color as a subpixel which the end would layover if the end had the same orientation as a corresponding portion ofthe conductive mesh at an interior of the sensor electrode.